Entry Level Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Entry Level Graphic Designer

Company: Trilon Group

Location: Charlotte, NC

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-08-28

Experience Level: Entry Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and produce high-quality proposals, presentations, print, and digital marketing materials that align with established brand standards.

• Manage creative assets and ensure all content meets client requirements and production deadlines.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Business Development, and Engineering, to translate complex technical information into compelling visual solutions.

• Apply and maintain brand guidelines across all communications, ensuring a consistent and professional visual identity for the company.

• Prepare production-ready files for various mediums, coordinating with vendors and internal stakeholders as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on supporting a professional engineering firm within the aviation sector. The graphic design responsibilities are heavily tied to business development, proposal creation (RFQ/RFP/SOQ), and marketing collateral, requiring a strong understanding of translating technical content into accessible visuals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Proposal Design & Formatting: Create, format, and produce RFQ/RFP and SOQ materials, including layouts, infographics, charts, resumes, project sheets, and cover graphics, ensuring adherence to brand standards, client requirements, and production deadlines.

• Marketing Collateral Creation: Design high-impact print and digital collateral such as brochures, pitch decks, and advertisements to support multi-channel campaigns, corporate events, and recruiting initiatives.

• Digital & Social Media Content Development: Create visually engaging content for LinkedIn and other approved digital platforms, focusing on highlighting projects, technical expertise, company culture, and recruiting efforts.

• Brand Stewardship & Consistency: Diligently apply and maintain brand guidelines across all print and digital communications to ensure a cohesive, professional visual identity for Trilon Group.

• Visual Design & Layout: Utilize principles of typography, color theory, imagery, and layout to produce professional graphics for both print and digital channels, ensuring clarity and aesthetic appeal.

• Production File Preparation: Prepare accurate, high-quality, and production-ready files for print, digital distribution, presentations, and internal use, coordinating with vendors and internal stakeholders as required.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Marketing, Business Development, Engineering, and Leadership teams to translate complex technical concepts into clear, accurate, and engaging visual solutions.

• Project & Asset Management: Organize and manage design files, handle multiple assignments concurrently, incorporate feedback efficiently, and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "proposal support" and "marketing collateral" suggests a significant portion of the role will involve direct contribution to sales enablement and business development efforts, requiring a keen understanding of proposal best practices and persuasive visual communication.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Marketing, or a related field.

Experience: One to two years of relevant design and production experience, gained through internships, freelance work, or professional employment.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat, operating on both Mac and PC platforms.

• Strong skills in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel for document integration and presentation development.

• Deep understanding of typography, layout principles, color theory, image resolution, bleeds, and production requirements for both print and digital formats.

• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy in all deliverables.

• Excellent organizational, file-management, and quality-control skills.

• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to effectively take direction and incorporate feedback.

• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet project deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with marketing, branding, and social media best practices for professional services.

• Experience creating content for blogs, email campaigns, presentations, or other digital marketing initiatives.

• Demonstrated interest in aviation, engineering, architecture, or professional service industries.

• Familiarity with event planning, trade shows, or CRM systems.

• Basic knowledge of web development, including HTML, CSS, and CMS platforms, to support website updates and digital content.

• Experience creating infographics or visualizing complex technical information.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required qualifications highlight a need for foundational graphic design skills and practical experience in producing professional marketing and proposal materials. Preferred qualifications suggest a desire for a candidate who can grow into a more versatile marketing support role, with an appreciation for the company's industry.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of design projects showcasing proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).

• Examples of proposal design, including RFQ/RFP/SOQ materials, demonstrating layout, infographic, and typography skills.

• Samples of marketing collateral such as brochures, pitch decks, or digital advertisements.

• Evidence of creating visually engaging content for social media or digital platforms.

• Projects that demonstrate the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, understandable visuals (e.g., infographics, charts). Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow for managing design projects from brief to final delivery, including feedback incorporation.

• Documentation or case studies illustrating how brand guidelines were applied and maintained across multiple deliverables.

• Demonstrations of file preparation for print and digital, highlighting attention to detail and quality control measures.

• Projects that showcase collaboration with cross-functional teams or stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates will be expected to present a portfolio that clearly demonstrates their ability to execute on the core responsibilities, particularly in proposal development and marketing collateral creation, within the context of a professional services firm. The ability to showcase process and attention to detail will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $19.71 - $23.08 per hour

Benefits:

• Excellent compensation package.

• Outstanding holiday and paid-time-off programs.

• 401(k) Plan with a company match.

• Career Path Development Program (offering both Management and Technical Career Tracks).

• Mentorship Program for professional guidance and development.

• Tuition Reimbursement to support continued education.

• Competitive health and dental insurance premiums.

• Variety of voluntary benefit options.

• Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability insurance.

• Company-furnished life insurance.

• Employee Assistant Program (EAP) for confidential support.

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

• And more.

Working Hours: Full-time, likely aligning with standard business hours (e.g., 40 hours per week), with the expectation of on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated salary range is hourly, consistent with an entry-level full-time position. The comprehensive benefits package, including career development and mentorship programs, indicates a company that invests in its employees' growth, which is a significant draw for operations and creative professionals seeking long-term career paths.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Professional Aviation Engineering Services. Trilon Group (Talbert, Bright & Ellington, Inc. - TBE) specializes in the planning, design, and construction for airports, serving clients across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. This niche industry requires a deep understanding of technical specifications and regulatory environments.

Company Size: Over 90 professionals. This indicates a medium-sized firm that can offer a close-knit team environment while having the resources and project scope of a larger enterprise.

Founded: Over 28 years ago. This longevity suggests stability, established expertise, and a strong reputation within the aviation engineering sector.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will report to the Director of Marketing and Branding.

• The role involves close collaboration with Marketing, Business Development, Engineering, and Leadership teams, highlighting a cross-functional and integrated work environment.

• The Marketing department likely includes specialists in proposal management, communications, and potentially digital marketing. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Visuals: The role requires translating complex technical data and engineering concepts into clear, accurate, and engaging visuals.

• Process Optimization: Emphasis on organized file management, quality control, and efficient production workflows to meet deadlines.

• Brand Consistency: Strict adherence to established brand standards across all outputs to maintain a unified corporate image.

Company Website: https://www.trilongroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company operates within a specialized engineering sector, meaning the graphic design work will be contextually driven by aviation projects and technical requirements. The culture likely values precision, professionalism, and strong technical communication alongside creative output.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Entry Level Graphic Designer. This role is positioned at the foundational stage of a creative career within a professional services firm. It offers direct exposure to critical business functions like marketing, business development, and proposal management.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports directly to the Director of Marketing and Branding. This provides a clear line of mentorship and guidance from a senior marketing leader.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant in shaping the company's external perception through high-quality proposals and marketing materials. Effective visuals can directly influence the success of business development efforts, proposal wins, and overall brand reputation in a competitive engineering market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and learn advanced design techniques for technical visualization and proposal formatting.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining familiarity with the aviation engineering sector, its terminology, and project lifecycle, which can enhance design relevance and impact.

• Career Path Development Program: Trilon Group explicitly offers this program, catering to both Management and Technical Career Tracks, allowing for specialization or leadership progression within marketing or design.

• Mentorship Program: Direct access to experienced professionals for guidance on career development, skill enhancement, and navigating the professional services environment.

• Potential for Increased Responsibility: As experience grows, the role could expand to include more strategic marketing design input or ownership of specific collateral types.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of a "Career Path Development Program" and "Mentorship Program" is a strong indicator that Trilon Group invests in employee growth. For an entry-level candidate, this signifies a structured path for skill acquisition and advancement beyond basic design tasks, potentially leading to specialized roles in proposal management or marketing strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role is based in Charlotte, NC, indicating a traditional office setting rather than a remote or hybrid arrangement.

Office Location(s): Charlotte, North Carolina. This is the company's headquarters, suggesting a central hub for operations and team interaction.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close partnership with Marketing, Business Development, and Engineering teams, necessitating an environment conducive to teamwork and idea exchange.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and office productivity tools (Microsoft Office Suite) is expected. The company likely provides the necessary hardware (Mac or PC) and software licenses.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues from various departments, fostering a holistic understanding of the business and its projects.

Work Schedule: Full-time, likely adhering to standard business hours (e.g., Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM). The fast-paced, deadline-driven nature of proposal work may occasionally require flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration for this role, especially given the need to work closely with engineering and business development teams on technical proposals. Access to company resources and direct mentorship will be readily available.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of resumes and portfolios to assess foundational design skills, relevant experience, and software proficiency.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, their design process, and how they translated requirements into visual solutions. Expect questions on Adobe Creative Suite usage, typography, layout principles, and experience with proposal/marketing collateral.

• Team/Manager Interview: Assessment of cultural fit, communication skills, ability to take direction, and understanding of the company's industry and needs. This may involve scenario-based questions related to managing deadlines or incorporating feedback.

• Final Interview (Potentially): May involve a discussion with senior leadership or a more in-depth review of specific project examples.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Relevant Work: Prioritize projects demonstrating proposal design, marketing collateral, infographic creation, and social media content.

• Highlight Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, the design process, challenges faced, and the outcome. Emphasize how you translated technical information visually.

• Demonstrate Software Proficiency: Ensure examples clearly indicate the tools used (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, InDesign).

• Professional Presentation: Organize your portfolio logically, ensure high-quality images, and be prepared to articulate your design choices clearly and concisely.

• Accuracy and Detail: Proofread all text within your portfolio and resume meticulously.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential design challenge, which might involve creating a sample infographic, redesigning a presentation slide, or formatting a mock proposal section within a time limit.

• Technical Questions: Review common graphic design principles, color theory, typography, and print/digital production requirements.

• Company Research: Understand Trilon Group's services, their clients, and their market position in aviation engineering. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong, relevant portfolio is paramount for this role. Candidates should focus on showcasing their ability to produce professional, accurate, and visually compelling materials that directly support business development and marketing objectives, especially within a technical or professional services context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud:

  • Adobe Illustrator: Essential for creating vector graphics, logos, infographics, and complex illustrations. Expect questions on its usage for technical diagrams and branding elements.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for image editing, retouching, creating digital assets, and preparing images for print and web.
  • Adobe InDesign: The primary tool for layout and page design, critical for proposals, brochures, and other multi-page documents. Proficiency in setting up complex layouts, master pages, and styles is key.
  • Adobe Acrobat: For creating, editing, and managing PDF files, including pre-press checks, form creation, and document optimization for distribution.

• Microsoft Office Suite:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint: Essential for creating professional presentations and pitch decks, often incorporating graphics created in Adobe Suite.
  • Microsoft Word: Used for document formatting, incorporating graphics, and potentially for proposal text layout.
  • Microsoft Excel: May be used for data visualization, creating charts and graphs that are then integrated into designs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a graphic design tool, familiarity with how design assets are used in digital marketing campaigns (e.g., social media analytics, email campaign performance) may be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): Basic familiarity with how marketing collateral and proposals are used in CRM workflows or business development pipelines could be beneficial.

• Website CMS Platforms: Basic knowledge of Content Management Systems (CMS) could be helpful for updating website content or digital assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. The integration of Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint, is critical as the design output will frequently be embedded in presentations for clients and internal stakeholders. Familiarity with how designs function in broader marketing and sales processes is a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Precision & Accuracy: Reflecting the engineering industry, there's likely a strong emphasis on attention to detail, accuracy, and producing error-free work, especially in client-facing materials.

• Professionalism: Maintaining a high standard of professional conduct, communication, and presentation in all interactions and deliverables.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams (technical, sales, marketing) to achieve common goals.

• Efficiency & Timeliness: A commitment to meeting deadlines and managing workloads effectively in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.

• Brand Integrity: A dedication to upholding and enhancing the company's brand identity through consistent and high-quality design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires active collaboration with departments outside of marketing, such as engineering and business development, to understand technical nuances and client needs.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: An openness to receiving and incorporating constructive feedback from multiple stakeholders to refine designs and meet project objectives.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication regarding project status, potential challenges, and design decisions to ensure alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely mirrors the precision of engineering, balanced with the creative demands of marketing. Expect a professional, collaborative environment where clear communication and a commitment to quality are highly valued, particularly in supporting business development efforts.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Technical Concepts: The primary challenge will be interpreting complex engineering and aviation-related information and visually communicating it in an accessible and compelling manner for diverse audiences (clients, potential employees, stakeholders).

• Balancing Brand Standards with Project Needs: Ensuring all designs adhere to strict brand guidelines while also meeting specific client requirements or proposal objectives.

• Managing Multiple Deadlines: Juggling various projects simultaneously, often with tight turnaround times, especially during peak proposal periods.

• Incorporating Diverse Feedback: Effectively managing and integrating feedback from multiple stakeholders, who may have differing opinions or technical perspectives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Specialization: Deepening knowledge of the aviation engineering sector, which can inform more relevant and impactful design choices.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to master advanced features within Adobe Creative Suite and explore specialized design applications like data visualization or motion graphics.

• Proposal Management Process: Gaining insight into the intricacies of RFQ/RFP processes and how design contributes to proposal success.

• Career Path Development: Utilizing the company's structured programs to advance technical design skills or move into management roles within the marketing department.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced professionals about career progression, industry best practices, and effective workplace strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents a unique opportunity to develop specialized design skills within a niche industry. Candidates willing to learn the technical aspects of aviation engineering will find themselves better equipped to tackle the core challenge of visual communication and unlock significant growth potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate complex technical information into a visual format. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving approach, tool usage, and impact.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across various marketing materials, especially when working with different stakeholders?" (Highlight your understanding of brand guidelines and communication strategies.)

• "Walk me through a proposal design project from your portfolio. What were the client's needs, your design approach, and the final result?" (Be prepared to discuss your process, challenges, and the impact of your design.)

• "How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks when working on multiple design projects with competing deadlines?" (Emphasize organizational skills, project management tools/techniques, and communication.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for an aviation engineering firm like Trilon Group?" (Research the company's projects and values; connect your interests to their mission.)

• "How do you approach receiving and incorporating feedback on your designs, especially from non-designers?" (Showcase your collaborative and adaptable nature.)

• "Based on your understanding of Trilon Group, how would you approach designing a marketing collateral piece for them?" (Demonstrate you've thought about their brand and industry.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects (proposal design, marketing collateral, technical visuals).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the objective, your role, the challenges, your creative process, the tools used, and the positive outcome or impact.

• Highlight Technical Translation: If possible, showcase a project where you successfully visualized complex data or technical information.

• Be Concise and Clear: Focus on quality over quantity. Be prepared to answer questions about your design choices and technical execution.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth, confident delivery within a reasonable timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design process and its impact, especially within a technical context. Demonstrating an understanding of the aviation engineering industry and a collaborative spirit will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this entry-level Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Trilon Group careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects most relevant to proposal design, marketing collateral, and technical visualization. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., a professional website or PDF).

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and any relevant internships or freelance work. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Contributed to X proposals that resulted in Y wins").

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your process and how you translate technical information visually. Be ready to discuss your understanding of Trilon Group and the aviation engineering industry.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Trilon Group's services, recent projects, and company culture by exploring their website and LinkedIn profile. Understand their position in the aviation engineering market.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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